Nothing better then a walk in the park on a day in spring. Especially in Japan, so many nice parks to be found and all so well kept and made!
This garden is in Takamatsu, just when the sakura (cherry blossom) started, the first flowers were showing us their smiles. Compared to the Netherlands, where i am from myself, spring always starts a few weeks earlier, a great time to visit my girlfriend and get in to the spring mood already.
Takamatsu is in the Kagawa prefecture, a few hours from Osaka. There is a castle: Takamatsu Castle and its known for using seawater in its moat. Its not that spectacular but the park obviously is!
The history of the park goes back to about 1625 when the feudal lord of Takamatsu, Ikoma Takatoshi started the construction.
Ritsurin is one of the most famous historical gardens in Japan.
There is a teahouse in the park and also a small folk craft museum (unfortynately closed when i was there).
The calmth and beautiful colors of green makes it a very pleasant walk.
If you look good in to the green water, you will see lots of Koi carps, typical for Japan, you see them quite often at locations like this.
We also saw a few cute turtles doing their morning swim.
Bring some food and drinks, and have a picknick there, the park is good for a 1-2 hour walk but slowing it down a little wouldnt hurt, its a lovely place to hang around a little longer!
If you would like to, there is also a posibilty to do a boat tour, dont expect to much from it, you see the same park only from a different angle. The park is normally not that busy so it doesnt make a big difference seeing it from the water or walking the paths.
Takamatsu has a modern bus and trainstation, with good connections to Osaka and other big citties in the area, so if you are ever close to it, its really worth a visit!
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Have a great day!
Note: All pictures were taken by myself, a sweet and loving thanks to my beautiful girlfriend that made them look even better!